Building construction



Jan. 11, 1944. E. c. CROWLEY v 2,339,220

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed March 25, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l 4 INVENTOR fawn/e0 CHASE CROWLEY ATTORINEY Jan. 11, E c BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Y I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2' lNVENl'OR EDWARD CHASE CROWLEY Filed March 25, 1941 ATTORNEY Jan. 11,1944. 5, c, CROWLEY 7 2,339,220

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed March 25, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR v EDWARD CHAsE CROWLEY ATTORNEY 1944- 2 I E. c. CROWLEY 2,339,220

. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed March 25, 1941 4 Sheets-She et 4 ATTORNEY v BYP I Y Patented Jan. 11, 1944 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUILDINJZZZZ 'ZRUCTION Edward Chase Crowley,'Rhinebeck, N. Y.

Application March 25, 1941, Serial No. 385,065

' 18 Claims. (01. 12-1) This invention relates to a new form of prefabricated and sectionalized construction and necessarily involves the assembled use of novel paneled beams, elbow. beams, beams and beam joints.

The essential features of this invention are shown in the drawings as applied to a house with a gable roof, and openings in said construction for door indows, chimneys and stairwells are purposely omitted because provisions therefore are well known, subject to the proviso that all such.

openings should be in some multiple of paneled beam width to preserve line and joint continuity.

An object of this invention is to provide a demountable structure composed of a small number of difl'erent kinds of parts, completely shop fabricated including insulation and all interior and exterior exposed surfaces and trim, so arranged that the work in the field to assemble a ready to use structure is limited to sliding together and locking the various parts and sealing the joints in the insulating material. 3

A further object is to provide structural elements that are comparatively light in weight and easy to handle.

A further object is to form structures by the interlocked-and joined assembly of said prefabricat-ed paneled beams, elb'ow beams, H beams and I Joints in such manner as to make the joints the strongest part ofthe structure and to so tie the various parts together that the assembly thereof acts as a single unit in its resistance to stress and strain and response to gravity, and to distribute the weight of the structure evenly along horizontal lines. a

A further object is to keep down manufactur ing costs by providingthe said structural'ele-' ments in respective uniform widths-withappropriate depths of beam webs and gauge thicknesses of metal as constants, and by providing the variables, i. e., the respective and different lengths of the respective beams and metal cores by making the same from single piece lengths of flat metal which may be easily rolled into appropriate outline longitudinally by machine in any lengths desired.

' The invention consists of novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations, and improve-- ments herein shown and described. fThe accom- -'panying drawings illustrate'the invention and the best form contemplated. for applyingthese same. This form, however, is to be considered as explanatory rather than restrictive, serving the purpose of explaining the inventive concept and features-involved in my inven'tio Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference indicate similar parts:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a completed building, parts being in section; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a completed 7 end wall, parts being in section;

Figure 3, is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the joint between the end wall and roof;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of two panels utilized in forming a side wall and with the parts shown in disassembled relation; 1

5 is a horizontal sectional'view on the line 55'of Figure 4; v

Figure 6 is a perspective sectional view of the end joints 'of two floor panels taken on line 8-6 of Figure 7;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view on line 1-1 of Figure 6; ,1-

Figure 8 is a perspective view illustrating the ,supports on the side walls adaptable for support-' ing the second story floor;

Figure 9 is an end perspective view'of a second 2 floor panel;

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view on the line lO-lll of Figures land in a partially assembled relation;

Figure 11 .is a perspective view of a' corner panel;

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view of the ridge of the roof;

Figure 13 is -a vertical sectional view showing the juncture of the floor panel and sidewalk Figure 14 is a perspective view of a corner joint showing the metallic members in separated relation;

Figure 15 is a perspective view of the elements forming the joint at the cave of the house. the metallic parts being disassembled;

Figure 16 is. a cross-sectional view 'of the cave joint; and

Figure '17 is' a perspective view showing a joint formed by two floor panels having as a stiifening member a hollow tube with two flat surfaces and two rounded ends formed by winding a strip of metal in lockseam formation. I

" Figure 1 shows the paneled beams or unitary panels assembled with elbow beams to form a I second floors, side walls or roof. The elbow beams are designated by the letter B and therein shown at the roof ridge and the right and left hand junctures of the first floor panels with the 14 showing the parts side wall panels and at the verticai jtomers in the rear. 1

Figure 2 shows the assemblyoiEf-these paneled I beams A and elbow beams B toi fgrim junctures of the end wall with the gablediroi'if and the first and second floors of the structui; f

Most of the joints shown in siiidmjigures 1 and 2 are further shown in amplified" detail in separate .flgures. Such joints are enclosed by circles in said Figures 1 and 2, bearing numbers corresponding to the figure numbers giving the details of such jointsthe numbered circles in said Figures 1 and 2 showing the application and position of such joints in use.

The paneled beams or unitary panels A sh'own are of a uniform width throughout the drawings and a substantially uniform thickness, this thickness depending on the type of transverse metallic web used. The lengths of. the panels vary but, in every instance, this length is sufficient to extend in a single length from side wall to side wall, or ground to eave, or,floor to floor, or came to ridge, or ground to ridge, as the case may be. 1 These paneled beams are rectangular in outline and'have on their longitudinal edges strips of metal rolled into an H-beam contour "(see Cl' and C2 in Figs. 4 and 5). These strips and con- ..tours are identical but they are disposed in reverse and complementary positions for engagement with adjacent panels as outlined at C at the righthand side of said Figure 5.

In further detail, these longitudinal strips have in H-beam contour two parallel flanges joined in a single line to centrally disposed vertical web 2a by means of two loops 2b and both on the same side of the web, one loop 20 being open and the other 217 closed. The said loops project inwardly toward the center of the panel and having a recessed portion between them for the receptions and support of other panel members. The straight portions of said flanges project outwardly presenting two tongues and one groove 2c for interlocking engagement with adjacent panels, the respective grooves on each longi udin'al edge of the panel being diagonally oppos te each other. The contour of said edges is so'arranged that when adjacent strips are slid together they form a doubled H beam having three lay? ers of metal in its flanges and two layers of metal in its web, and also form a joint C having no exposed crevices.

The ends of said panel edges are perforated in 'alinement with perforations in the cross-members to permit a rod to pass transversely through member D projecting downward in the inside of a side wall panel; and further illustrated by Figs. 8 and'9 where the modified type of cross member D" shown on Fig. 9 is necessary to use to 5 slide into the second floor support D shown in The said paneled beams have a metallic transverse web and stiffening member. This transverse web is shown in Figs. 2 to 13 as a strip of 0 corrugated metal 43. Fig. 1'7 shows this transverse web in'the modified form '43 of a hollow tube with two flat sides and two rounded ends made by spirally winding a strip of metal in lockseam formation.

I prefer the corrugated type of web for all construction up to two stories and attic on account of its light weight and cheapness. For structures having three tosix stories inclusive, I prefer the tubular type of web on'account of its 20 greater strength and the greater utility of said tubes for accommodation of plumbing, lighting and heating arrangements.

The said paneled beams A have alayer of nonmetallic material I8 on each side of said web.

This material is molded to fit into the flanged recesses on the insides of said longitudinal metallic strips and to snugly fit and conform to the outline of the open loop 20 and flanges C1 on the diagonally opposite corners of said paneled beams as shown in Fig. 5. The said material is 4 aforesaid, the said material forming diagonally opposite butt joints ([9, Fig. 5) on each side of said me l strips when adjacent panels are joined as aforg to form an air tight enclosure.

. Th'e aforesaid arrangement, of said paneled beams A, presents completely prefabricated longitudinal structure sections having an unusually good form of insulation andpresenting both in- -te'rior and exterior finished and ready to use surfacescovering said metal ,structure, which is discesses between said surfaces at thesides and ends of said paneled beams. Obviously, these layers of material may be of one composition for outside exposure and another composition for inside exposure. The surface of these layers may be of said, saidbutt joints being readily sealed posed as a-girdle and not as a border in the re- 'both said panel edges and said cross-member smooth rough" plain designed and colored (see Fig. 7) and, at points in the constructio form, as desired.- These surfaces may be flat as where these ends form angular joints with the ends of other panel's, these ends are beveled as an or otherwise as desiredshown in the drawings herein, or may be arched shown in Figures 12 and 13.

At the ends of these rectangular paneled I beams are metal cross members D welded to the 16 where the eave "joint is formed by a cross 7 member D projecting downward from the outside of a root'panel to dove-tail with a cross There may be only one layer of material instead of the two shown or the web may be completely immersed in and surrounded the material.

In Fig. 5, I show a modi i lcationjof. the" sides of said two layers of material,.fwhich are s'pective- 1y adjacent to said web. The modifl 1'01]. consists of molding grooves 20 on said sides of said;

insulating material We to add additionalair spaces to the air spaces afforded by the corruga tions'in said web and gives a reduction in the,

weight and amount of material in said layers.

In Fig. 11 there is illustrated a modification of the H beam described above. Themodiflcation 1s consists in changing the angular relationship of proximately 45.

. similarly made of two I other modified deformed disposed over the beveled ends of end wall panone-half of a flange 2| to the vertical web by dropping it from a 90 angle to an angle of ap- For convenience, this form of beammay be specifically identified as. a deformed H-beam' constructig In other respects this beam is the same as the said H beam, being rolled sections of metal forming when joined together a doubled beam having three layers of metal in its flanges and two layers of metal in' its vertical web. I

Said modified type of beam embodying the. deformed H construction. is used to reinforce the outer edges of marginal paneled beams A and to aid in forming braced joints in conjunction with elbow beams at all places where said marginal beams meet other paneled beams to form corners, such as the vertical corner shown in Figure 10, where the sides of marginal paneled beams in an end wall and side wall respectively converge into a vertical elbow beam, and such as-the corner shown in Fig. 3 where a roof panel A with such modified deformed H-beam construction as a part thereof converges into one side of an elbow beam B, while on the other side of said e1- bow beam B and also converging therewith is an- H -beam longitudinally eledbeams A to form joint 3 which thus shows the use of two deformed H-beams to form this joint in connection with an elbow beam.

In Figs. 6 and 7, is shown a further modification of said H-beam joint. the junction of the ends of two firstfloor paneled beams with the end of a vertically disposed interior partition panel. As only one set of floor panels is called for in the unitary space enclosure of Fig. 1, this three-way beam joint is not shown there and is useful only in more elaborate structures or in addition to the simple illustrative. structure of Fig. -1. The beam shown in Fig. 6 is made of two-metal strips joined together to form a base flange having three layers of metal and a vertical which are flrst and extended in web having two layers of metal bent at right angles to the web opposite directions to. form sockets for the reception and support of the ends of These metal strips are bent backward upon themselves to stifv fen said flange and form the respective horizontal beams.

part of the metal trim on each side of the base of said vertical panel. Said strips are then bent transversely into parallel separated relationship to form separated l flanges 29, 29 as indicated to receive the partition Panel and from the rest of said trim. And in such case, the tenons 42 on the ends of the floor panels are carried through mortise openings, 44

in the web of the H-beam and'said ends are spliced together with rods disposed therethrough as more fully hereinafter described in connection with elbow beams, the mode of joinder shown .in Figure 7 being common to both types of beams. I

The elbow beam mentioned above is-so called because it functions as an elbow in making twoand giving support to all way connections with other members meeting at corners; It, like the beams described above, is a skeleton beam formed by joining together two rolled sections of metal strip and in such doubled relationship it likewise has flanges composed of three 'layers ,of metal and a web'composed of two layers of metal. It differs from the other beams, however, in

that the flanges on both sides of the web are dis- These views show to the vertical web mar, Where the elbow beam is usedto join first floor panels to side wall 1 panels or to join end wall panels to floor or roof I I ship of flanges to web is fixed by the predeter-' mined slope of roof. For convenience in illustration the ridge shown in the drawings is approximately 45. In .practice, the ridge may be at any angle desired. This ridge I2 is shown in position on Figure 1 and in detail in Fig. 12.

The said elbow beam is literally the foundation on which rests the whole of the construction described. herein. I- have described above its use in connection with the sides of said modified H beams to horizontal corner joints between root and floor panels and end wall panels. In addition to such usage, the said elbow beam is used at the ridge l2 (see Figs. 1 and 12) and at the corners formed by the meeting of first floor beams with side wall beams l3 (see Figs. 1 and '13). At joints l2 and I3, the respective panels involved meet in an end to end relationship with the tenons 42 on all of such ends passing through mortise openings 44' provided in the webs of elbow beams used in such panel dispositions with said tenons 42 in an-oifset and rabbeted relationship (see Fig. '7), such that the perforations in the projecting tenons and the. other perforations in the cross members and panel ends are alined to form two parallel .both inside and outside rows of perforations 4040, one row being on each side of said elbow beam web. Strong rods (Fig. 7-) preferably in pairs, are longitudinally disposed through said rows of perforations,thereby splicing together the ends of such converging paneled beams A to form a continuous beam which is reinforced and supported by disposing the said panel ends in the mortise openings 44" provided by the flanges of said elbow beam at the points of said convergence.

At all points of usage, the said elbow beam forms the corner closure and weather cap and trim.

All parts of the completely assembled and readyto use structure are demountably attached together to form a unit mass with the weight thereof transmitted to and borne principally by the horizontally disposed ground floor members in even distribution. The vertically disposed corner elbow beams bear little imposed weight. The weight of the end wall panels is transmitted to the elbow beam B at the bottom thereof as' shown in Figure 2. The long horizontal corner. joint 24 is formed by the elbow beam connection 7 of bottom ends of end wall panels to sides of floor panels with their member D at the side of as root panels. This involves the unusual condition of posed in oppositely sloping angles of less than u disposing a deformed H-beam longitudinally over the top ends of vertically disposed end wall panels, either in separate pieces as end cross-- membersjfo'r each individual wallpanel or with one deformed H-beamspread overthe tops of a series of wall panels. Obviously either form may be used. The joint 45, formed by letting the sides of second floor panels into end wall panels, as well as joints 3 and 24, are all shown on said Fig. 2. The end wall panels may be tied in at form vertical corner joints and a their tops and bottoms to the vertically disposed elbow beams and to the respective horizontally disposed elbow beams and panels by the bolts 26 shown in Figures 2, 3, 10 and 13.

Figures 10 and 14 show how portions of the layers of metal in vertical' elbow beams and side wall elbow beams and end'wall beams are cut away to form a compact corner joint and to prevent the formation of an open gap between the vertical elbow beam and the insulating material on the side wall and end wall panels which would be formed if all three elbow beams retained their full thicknesses at such comer point. It will be seen from Figure 13 thatthe side wall panels a'gap would be presented and, therefore, two of the inner layers 21 of metal in said vertical elbow beam B and two of the outer layers of metal 28 in said side wall elbow beam B1 and said end wall elbow beam B2 are cut away as shown on said Figs. 10 and 14 for the purposes aforesaid. This cutting process also permits the use of elbow beams of uniform cross-sectional dimensions.

The tied-in joint 8 (Figure 1) formed by the junction of the second floor paneled beams with.

the side .wall paneled beams is shown in detail in Figures 8 and 9. Figure 8 shows the two additional spaced apart cross members D-D, welded to the insides of the longitudinal edges of .the side' wall paneled beams, the lower of said cross members having a groove portion thereof extending downwards as at 3|, and the upper of said cross members having a groove portion thereof extending upwards as at 3|a. Figure 9 shows the end of a second floor paneled beam with a unitary cross member connector plate D" welded thereon as at 32, of appropriate dimensions to be slid horizontally into said grooves and to hold the floor panel firmly in braced relationship to the side wall panel.

The cave joint formed by the junction of the roof paneled beams with the side wall paneled beams I6 is shown in position on Figure 1 and in detail on Figures 15 and 16. The entire row of sidewall panels has a longitudinally extending channeled cap 33 with openings thereon as at 33a to permit the passage therethrough of the downwardly extending rabbeted cross member D on the outside of and near the end-of the roof panel for the purpose of obtaining a bearing on the rabbeted cross member D which extends downward on the inside of said wall panel and to bring into alinement the perforations l and 40' on each of said cross members to permit the passage therethrough of the longitudinally ex- D, D, D", or D serves to restrain movement of a panel stiffening member such as 43.

I- claim:

1. As a new form of construction, the forma-- tion of a prefabricated demountable structure by the interlocked and joined assembly of a plurality of unitary panels and an elbow beam having flanges composed of three layers of material and a web composed of two layers of material made by longitudinally joining together two sections of strip material, each section having in contour two parallel flanges bent at their centers to form oppositely sloping angles to the web, and connected in a single line to a centrally disposed vertical web by means of two loops, both in the same side of the web, one loop being open and'the other closed, the said elbow beam presenting two angularly disposed mortises sloping in opposite directions from said web.

2. As a new joining element for structural elements having their sides or ends meeting at an angle, an elbow beam having flanges composed of three layers of material and a web composed of two layers of material made by longitudinally joining together two sections of strip material, each section having in contour two flanges bent at their centers to form oppositely sloping angles to the web, and connected in a single line to a centrally disposed vertical web by means of two loops, both in the same side of the web, one loop being open and the other closed, the said elbow beam presenting two angularly disposed mortises sloping in opposite directions from said web into which mortises the ends or sides of said meeting structural elements are disposed to form corner joints, the exposed outside flange of the elbow beam constituting a weather cap for the joint so formed and both flanges constituting trim on 40 the inside and outside of the structure.

3. A building construction comprising, in combination with an elbow beam having flanges and web, and mortise openings in said web, a plu rality of paneled beams each having a double locked spliced and braced combination miter, rabbet and mortise and tenon arched joint formed by the end toend angular assembly of said paneled beams in oppositely sloping parallel rows on each side of'the web of said elbow beam, the

ends of said paneled beams being disposed within said mortises of the elbow beam with the beveled ends of the long sides of the paneled beams making right angled contacts on each side of the web of the elbow beam, and cross members having projecting tenons, said cross members being situated on the narrow sides'of said paneled beams extending. angularly through the said mortise openings in the web of the elbow beam in offset I rabbeted relationship from one side of said web to the underside of the outer flange on the oppotending rod 25'. The side wall paneled beams are beveled at an angle as shown at 34 to correspond with the angle of-slope of the roof to permit the longitudinal metal edges of the roof 4 in the recesses on the upper ends of said side wall panels-prevents either lateral or vertical movement of said roof and side wall panels and holds all of said panels together in unitary massed I formation. 0 any one of the said forms of cross members site side of said web, the projecting parts of said tenons having parallel rows of perforations, perfortions in one said tenon being in alinement with perforations in the tenon of the oppositely disposed paneled beam ends and cross members and forming two parallel rows of perforations, one on each side of said elbow beam web, a rod extendingthrough each row of perforations, the saidrods splicing together the ends of the angularity disposed paneled beams to form a continuous beam with an elbow.

4. A building construction comprising in comblnation with an H-beam having flanges and a web and mortise openings in said web, a plurality of paneled beams each having a double locked.

spliced and braced combination rabbet, mortise tion, a flanged beam hav' between its flanges, which face in three different 7 and tenon longitudinal Joint formed by the end to end horizontal assembly thereof with said I structural element, said. paneled beams being arranged in opposite parallel rows on each side of the web of said structural element beam, said 5 web having a plurality of mortise openings therein, the ends of said paneled beams being disposed within the mortises made by said beam flanges, with the ends of the long sides of the paneled beams making right angled contacts on each side 10 of the web of the said beam, and 'crosslnembers having projecting tenons, said cross members situated on the narrow sides of the paneled beams extending horizontally through the said mortise openings in the web of said beam tions in one said tenon being in alignment with perforations in the tenon of the oppositely disposed paneled beam ends and cross members and forming two parallel rows of perforations, one on each side of said web, a rod extending through each row of perforations, the said rods splicing together the ends of the horizontally disposed paneled beams to form a continuous. horizontal beam.

5. As a new joining element for structural members having their sides or ends meeting at 0 1 members on the insides thereof and composed of a band or material disposed on edge in a plane an angle, a solid elbow beam made by joining together two strips of material, each of which has a web and two pairs of sloping flanges, one pair being on each side of said web, to provide a web and muses on each side of said web.

6. As a new structural element, a solid de-' formed H-beam having two pairs of flanges composed of three layers of material on each side of a web composed of two'layers of material, with at least one of said flanges extending from said 6 web at an angle thereto which is other than a right angle and at least two of said flanges ex-: tending from said web at a right angle thereto, said element being made by joining together two strips of material in closely fitting formation.

7. In building construction, sidewall panels and rooflng panels, each formed with longitudinal edge beams, means for joining said roofing panels to side wall panels with the edge beams of the former supported by the edge beams of the latweb in parallel therewith, while the other row of ter, comprising rabbeted cross members secured to said roofing panels and extending downwardly therefrom, other rabbeted cross members secured to the side wall panels at the upper ends thereof and constructedfor receiving in nested relation said first-named cross members, a, channeled plate extending across the top of said wall panel and embracing the outer faces thereof, said plate having an opening therein coextensive in width and length with said first-named cross member 0 to permit the passage therethrough of said cross member and a locking rod extending through the rabbeted portions of both said cross members and. the edge beams of said side wall panels, said rod and the edges of said plate opening holding a both said panels firmly in joined relationship.

8. As a new joining element for structural members having their ends meeting in a T formag mortise openings directions, and composed of two strips of material Joined together in continuous lines to form a horizontally disposed. base flange having three layers of material therein, a centrally and verticall! disposed web having wo layers of material 1,

therein, and an upper horizontally disposed flange having the material thereof carried forward in looped and bent formation to constitute two single-layer, spaced apart vertically extending flanges. v

9. In building construction, a detachable joint formcdby the sliding engagement of a fabricated unitary panel having disposed at an end thereofv a unitary cross member and connector plate member having its longitudinal edges extending beyond said panel, with two spaced apart unitary ledges and anchor plates, each of which has a projecting flange with a loop therein forming a recess, said loops being oppositely disposed and the end of said panel being disposed between said flanges with the extended edges of said unitary cross member and connector plate member disportion with parallel perforations at the ends of each of said members, two cross members including unitary cross member and projecting tenon fastened to the ends of said longitudinal edge below and substantially parallel to said surfacing sheet, said band being bent to form a projecting tenon having a plane bearing surface disposed at a right angle to said longitudinal edge members, said band having two parallel rows of perforations therein, with one of said rows in alinement with said perforations in said longitudinal edge members.

ii. In building construction, a detachable elbow joint formed by disposing the tenoned end of at least one perforated unitary panel such as set I forth in claim 10 between a'pair of the flanges on one side of the web of a beam having a pair of flanges on each side of the web thereof and open- I.

ings in said 'web, and so disposing a tenon of said unitary panel through an opening in the web of said beam that one of the two rows ofperforations in said tenon is posed on one side of said perforations in said tenon, which is in alinement with perforations in tnelongitudinal edge memlocked assembly of three elbow beams of substantially uniform cross section. each'of whichhas a web and a pair of flanges sloping from I each side or said web to provide a continuous elbow beam of the same cross section throughout and extending both vertically and in two different together when the perforations are alined and the flanges at said ends being reduced in thickflanges in common with the flanges of the vertithe joined and J sisting of longitudinal and completely mentary sections of a symmetrically flanged and tions of adjacent similar tenons to permit members, and a rod unreduced flanges of the respective beams and to provide recesses of uniform width and depth for the reception of other structural members.

13. In building construction, an angular arch wherein all pressure borne by said arch and all resistance to such pressure is distributed in couples on each side of the apex thereof, with there;

sistance couples in opposed and balanced relation to the pressure couples", comprising an elbow beam disposed to form the apex of said arch,- which beam has a web with openings therein and a pair of spaced apart flanges sloping at an angle from each side of said web, and at least one panel having one projecting tenon at an end thereof disposed at such end between one of said pairs of flanges and at least one similar panel similarly disposed on the opposite side of said web, with the tenons of the respective panels passing in oflset relation through said openings from side to side of said elbow beam and the other portions of said panels extending from said apex in respective planes parallel to the respective pairs of flanges, and means to lock said panels in such relation tosaid elbow beam and distribute in couples as aforesaid the pressure applied to said arch and the resistance thereto.

14. In building construction, a unitary corner panel for use at the marginal ends of walls, roofs, and floors to form corner joints between wall and wall, or between wall and roof, or between Wall wardly extending comprising a generally rectangular body presenting two outer surfacing portions and having an open loop recess with inner and outer walls on each opposite longitudinal side thereof, the outer walls of the said recesses being formed by said surfacing portions and projecting laterally beyond said inner walls, and a girdle having two end cross members joining in spaced apart relation two longitudinal and completely complementary sections of a symmetrically flanged and webbed beam, each section being made from a single strip of material and presenting two outwardly extending flanges and a plurality of inflanges, the inwardly extending flanges being in looped formation, one longitudinal beam section having an open loop at the top and a closed loop at the bottom thereof and one longitudinal beam section having an open loop at the bottom and a closed loop at the top thereof, said beam sections being disposed to form snugly fitting slip jointengagement with complementary beam sections of adjacent similar girdles and thereby assemble said symmetrically flanged and webbed beam on either longitudinal side of said girdle with a like member on another girdle, said body being mounted upon and supported by the flanges and webs of the said longitudinal members of said girdle, said i dle webbed beam, each section being perforated at l the ends thereof and being made from a single strip of material and presenting outwardly extending flanges and inwardly extending flanges, the inwardly extending flanges being in looped formation, one longitudinal beam section having an open loopat the top and a closed loop .at the bottom thereof and one longitudinal beam section having an open loop at the bottom and a closed loop at the top thereof, said beam sections being disposed to form snugly fitting slip joint engagement with complementary beam secsemble said symmetrical flanged and webbed beam on either longitudinal side of said girdle with a like memberon anothergirdle, at least dies and thereby sr one of said end cross-members having as a unitary part thereof a connector element consisting of a. projection of said cross-member to form one or more tenons, said cross-member having one row of perforations therein alined with said perforations in said longitudinal beam sections and another parallel row of perforations in said J the Passage of a rod transverselythrough said cross-member and longitudinal transversely through said cross-member, and the cross-member and ion-- gitudinal members of a like girdle assembled therewith.

16. In bulldim constructioni a unitary, panel a substantially rectangular being disposed about the periphery of said body between the planes of said surfacing portions with flange formation thereof completely under- 1 g the entire length of each'of said outer walls of said recesses and with one of said inwardly extending looped flanges thereof disposed in each one of said recesses in said body.

'17. In building construction, a unitary panel comprising a body portion, and cross members and longitudinal edge members consisting of two identical beams, each beam being formed of a strip of material shapedinto an H contour in cross section with two parallel flanges joined in a single line to a centrally disposed web by means of two loops, both on the same side of the web, one loop being open and the other loop closed,

, said beams being disposed in reverse positions on the opposite longitudinal edges of said panel, with the looped portions thereof extending inwardly toward the medial line of the panel,,the two ends of said strip extending outward to form parallel separated flanges and the respective open loops diagonally opposite each other and the respective closed loops diagonally opposite each other so that, when similar panels are joined together on their longitudinal edges in a detachable sliding contact joint, there is formed a solid H-beam and beam joint therebetween having three closely fitting layers of material in its flanges and two closely fitting layers of material inits web and wherein said two layers are disposed in identical vertical elevation, said body portion consisting of surfacing sheets disposed to extend beyond and over said longitudinal members and cross members in substantially parallel planes, and a bracing, spacing and supporting member disposed in the interior of said panel between the aforesaid surfacing sheets, and where-. in said surfacing sheets are locked in position by said beams and said bracing, spacing and sup- P rtin member in mutually bracing, supporting and reinforcing relationship.

18. As a new member in-building construction, girdle comprising two identical longitudinal members and two end cross members, each of said longitudinal members constituting one longitudinal and complementary half of a symmetrically flanged and webbed beam and consisting of material shaped into an H contour in cross section with two flanges joined in a. single line to a centrally disposed web by means of two loops, both on the same side of the web, one loop being open with theouter portion thereof spaced away from said web and the other loop being closed with the outer portion thereof resting upon said web, the said end cross members being dissimilar to .the longitudinal members and being joined to' the webs of said longitudinal members and holding saidlongitudinal members in spaced apart but reversed relation with their respective webs disposed inrparallel planes, with their respective open loops diagonally opposite eachother'and with said open loops being unobstructed at each of their end portions and with the respective flanges extending free- 5 ly outwardly with each flange in a diflerent but adjacent plane to form snugly fitting slip joint engagement withcomplementary beam sections or adjacent similar girdles and thereby permit either the longitudinal or lateral assembly of such 10 a symmetrically flanged and webbed beam on each longitudinal side of saidgirdle with a like memher on another girdle with both such assembled beams disposed at the same level.

EDWARD CHASE CROWIm. 

